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The investigation into the Taurus wiretapping scandal is closed. Moscow assesses this in its own way – and suspects an attempt to cover it up.
Moscow – The Bundeswehr generals’ wiretapping affair has also made waves beyond Germany. One Russian intelligence service managed to intercept the telephone conference of high-ranking officers. The Berlin public prosecutor’s office then began investigating Air Force Inspector Ingo Gerhartz, but discontinued the proceedings in April. Moscow senses that this is an attempt by Berlin to cover up an uncomfortable issue.
Russia’s eavesdropping on Bundeswehr generals: investigations closed
The case against Gerhartz was discontinued because there was “no evidence of intentional action on the part of the accused,” according to a spokesman for the public prosecutor’s office. “Any carelessness would possibly be relevant to disciplinary law, but is not punishable as negligent action,” the spokesman continued. The case is therefore closed. Russia’s eavesdropping attack on the Bundeswehr generals was also so explosive because the military discussed several operational scenarios in the conversation if the German Taurus cruise missile were to be delivered to Ukraine.
The intercepted conversation also discussed a possible Taurus deployment to the Kerch Bridge. The traffic artery is of strategic importance in the Ukraine war because Russia uses it to supply the troops at the front with supplies. However, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) had already spoken out in the Taurus debate before the wiretapping scandal and decided against a delivery. The Kremlin nevertheless viewed the generals’ wiretapped discussion as evidence of the direct involvement of Western states in Ukraine’s defensive campaign. The recording shows that the Bundeswehr is planning concrete strikes against Russian territory, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in March.
Zakharova accuses Germany of wanting to “cover up an inconvenient topic”
Following Moscow’s narrative, the spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Sarachowa, now also commented on the discontinuation of the proceedings against Gerhartz. This is an attempt by the German authorities to “quickly cover up an inconvenient issue,” Zakharova said in a statement on Saturday published comment. And further: “Overall, it seems that Berlin has something to hide.” Germany’s actions are true to the motto: “No issue – no problems,” the spokeswoman continued. The Foreign Office spokeswoman speculated that Berlin wanted to sweep its “plans to increase Germany’s direct participation” under the carpet.
Western military experts emphasized that the Taurus could very well be used by Ukraine without the participation of German soldiers – provided the Ukrainians were trained accordingly. “We see that the Ukrainian soldiers are managing to send drones into the Leningrad region […] to direct Moscow. Then, after the appropriate training, they will also be able to program the Taurus,” commented the former NATO-General Erhard Bühler in his podcast “What to do, Mr. General?” This option was also mentioned in the intercepted conversation between the Bundeswehr officers – but Moscow deliberately ignored this detail in its interpretation. (bme)
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